Apparatus for molding concrete walls



Oct. 19, 1948. P. Y. K. HowAT 2,451,951

APPARATUS FOR MOLDING CONCRETE WALLS Filed June 6, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l i231? av o 14 15 i412 l' I. o .i 15 u 1 Fwif Oct. 19, 1948. P. Y. K. HowAT 2,451,951

APPARATUS FOR MOLDING CONCRETE WALLS Filed June e, 19,46 2 sheets-sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 19, 1948 APPARATUS FOR. MOLDING JCONGRE TE i WALLS r Philip' Y: Home, Washington,- Da'c;

Application! une 6; 1946,..Serial Non674f683f;

This invention relates toanlapparatus for` moldin'g.,.walls for. other.- forms-of .moldablef materials such .as concrete, and v.more particularly to= ,'a'v novel.l form of. moldplaque and .to a .self-bracing; demountable vsupporting structure therefor.-`

There are many knownmethodsand typesof` apparatuslfor. molding ,Walls andthe like of `mold-- able-materials vsuch as..,concrete, of-whichothet mostcommon method is to buildaform of :Wood` boards. and .pour plasticA material.4 therein... In order. to properlypace the wallsofthe form,; they are f. usually'v braced...by connecting metalstrips,. called. ties;v Whichbecomeembedded inthe concrete afterit ispoured.. When` the..form isaremoyed. the Yendsi of .these ties protrudebeyond the surface of 1 .the molded. .structure andy-these., free ends are usually broken or cut off adjacent: tothe surfaces of, the molded structure..

Wooden :forms4 are highly unsatisfactory vdue to` the.fact that theyproduce a rough surfacezon the molded structure;` both. beeause..of the grain` in the wood and because. of. spaces `between a adjacent boards. Althoughhighly iinishedboardsmay loey used, themoisture from.theplastic `ma-` terialca-uses their suriacesftordeform `and their; edges .to warp, .and` they deteriorate so l rapidly.,` that they may befused only. tWoor.-.three.times.- Furthermore.. the -use .cities Vis undesirable be.A cau-se they formv blemishes f in the. molded ...Sura faces, ,and theirf..ends,if left-exposed; become rustedvery rapidly.. l

In view of this situation'many dilerent types of'. apparatus-.have been. proposed `Whiclrngenerally employv ametal framework` thati is. arranged tosupport spaced moldform plaquesiormedgby; metalsheets. The .metal form .plaques have not= been completely satisfactory, howeverfonvaccount of. their initial expense :'-andalsobecause .-they mustbe replaced .rather ffrequently, at a=re1a.-.l tively ,great ,expense1,.because their ,surfaces be.- come rustedandthenhave a tendencysto adhere to the f molded .plastic l materials. Furthermore-,1Ll

ticularly for .bracing the bottoms-.oir the forms,-r

framework for supporting the-mold .plaques-Which.

may be so braced upon itself, from the top thereoL, that. l.no `,ties V.are .necessary` and. .therefore y#he moldedcsurfaces. will..'be.. perfectly smooth'. and.

` devoid of blemishes.

The`v foregoing.. object-s. and others ancillary thereto, are preferably accomplished..,according, to.. a` preferred ...embodiment .of .theinventiony .by the provision of mold plaques `Whicl1.ax'e.coxn` posedA of sheetso. concrete Although.. it! s.,not necessary to. do. somit, is..`,pr.eierred. to pcast Lthe, sheets` of.concrete,:Withinmetalhframes as ,they provide sharp, unbreakable.edges..which,will t. tightly against .the .,edges..,of. adjoining ,v plaques. These plaques may be supported ,infany ydesired manner, as..by ametalJramework, and 'maytbe retained in position by any other suitablemeans.,` In. order to permit. ease.,of.assembly`,and.'disas sembly,. howeven. it. ispreferredto cast. .channelv ironswithin the .rear surfacesaoi the .plaques and. small plates or straps may be secured acrossporf. tions of, the .exposedchannel sides. l.

Thefchannelirons performmhe. function of... 'bracing the :plaques while the small plates,.spamA ning f the .channelrirons provide means...f'or, .coope erating. .with ,retaining,.hooks... In. vthe preferred; arrangement,y suitable,..cross bars. providedavitn hooks areplaced againstthebuter sldesof..=the framework :withl their. .hooksA located. within the, channels-:in the rearsurfaces of.. the plaques. thatby-sIiding .the .bars downward, the hooks lwill l be. caught. behind the straps .or Iplatesspanning.

the channels... Oi,.- course,... any.l other suitable. means,-such,as.-wire, may. be employed Tor. brac-,y ing the..` plaques andl iany., desiredr arrangement, suchas` embedded bolts; may-'be used. forretainy ing themin position... Thesurraces of the cement. plaques are-coated .with asultable materiallwhichl Will prevent. ,the adherence .-.of -the i plastic`- mold. ing cement thereto.. Avariety.of'materialsvmam be used' for this. purpose,fincluding` shellac, vany f nish, soap'orthe like.V 3 i 4 Although the. concreter-mold. plaquesv -rnayr` ybe advantageously,employed-with-any type: ofi-frame Work, the 'best results `:areobtainedi by their fuse-1 in conjunctionwith a demountablefandfadjustable mold, supportingr framework` `whichris braced upon itself-solasttolavoidyfthe use+of1tiesr` They framework-,mayabe composed ,ofv any;-suitable` structural members, such.aaangletironsythat mayg bereadily assembled orfdisassembledby: any suit,- i able connecting means, fsuchas bolts.; For mold#- ing `yvallsforythe like,-, this framework may, bei composed of the usualtwofisets -of frames to' :bm`

Eurthe-rmore, the inventivef'conceptincludesa. 5,5 positioned in spaced relationshipatowformi-the opg* The novel features that are considered char# acteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, "however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be un-` derstood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings,` wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout, and in y which:

Fig. 1 is a view 'in perspective of a self-bracing framework supporting mold plaques formed of sheets of concrete; i,

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of one unit of the framework; n y Y Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view takenl on lines 3'-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an end view in elevation of the framework with a modified bracing arrangement;

Fig. 5 is a View in perspective of a frame for one of the mold plaques;

Fig. 6 is a View inperspective, `from` the rear, of one of the mold plaques; l 'i Fig. 7 isa cross sectional view taken on line I-I ofFigG; and 'Q Fig. 8 is a cross sectional Viewv taken through the assembled frameworkshowing two arrangements for supporting upper courses of mold plaques. A Y p A method and. apparatus'for molding walls and the like, to overcome the defects hereinbefore enumerated, should have Athe" totally distinct characteristics ofl providingmold plaques that are eflicientvinnoperation, durable in quality, and inexpensive in production, and of providing means for bracing a plaque supporting framework with-` out the use of"r ties that extend through the mold area. Accordinglyyua: preferred v#embodiment of the invention comprises a framework composed of a *plurality of rectangular frames which are connected'or fanchored by' transverse horizontal bars and lbraced therefrom by angular bars, and which` cooperate in supporting moldl plaques on their inner sides.` Specifically, with reference to Figs't 1 and 2 of the drawingp'mold plaques lil may be supported in moldingp'position by a pluralityof suitably positioned rectangular frames Il; The terni fmold plaques isinteflded t0 mean any member which prsentsamold surface thatforms one confining sideof a mold area.'

The frames II' are `xnore`clearly shownv in Fig.

2 wherein iti'nay be seen that'they arecomposed` of two upright angle Virons I2 joined by twov angle cross bars which "a're'spaced slightly from the, ends of thel uprights" I2-. `The uprightsl I2 are positioned so that their'anglesface toward each other' and to the r'earfwith their front flanges lying? `inl the same 'plane andv extendingt'oward each other and their lateral flanges extending' rearwardly along the "outer i side' edges :of' the frame' `I I.`V Although the cross bars I3Y may be positioned in 'any desired manner, it is preferred that their vertical' flanges be placed in the' same' plane as the front flanges of the uprights I2 so that they will cooperate in providing a plane against which the mold plaques I0 may be se cured. The cross bars I3 are spaced from the ends of the uprights I2 so as to accommodate angle brackets I4 for securing abutting ends of the uprights I2 of superimposed frames II when it isnecessary to increase the height of the frame- Work.

Each of the uprights I2 has two L-shaped plates I5 secured to their lateral flanges so that, as best shown in Fig. 3, the inner vertical edges of the plates I5 and the rear edges of the lateral flanges of the uprights I-2 cooperate to form slots for the reception of one flange of long anchor bars I6 which, as shown in Fig. 1, extend longitudinally of the framework to position a plurality of 4the frames II within the same general plane. The frames I I are of a width to correspond with the length of the mold plaques I3, however, they are not necessarily aligned side by side but, as shown in Fig. l, are preferably spaced aparta distance equal to the lengthof vthe mold plaques I so as to substantially -reduce the number of the frames II required for any given molding operation. By this arrangement, a plaque i il may be positioned against the front surface of each of the frames II and held in position by lockl bars I1 cooperating with the front anges of the uprights I2. The plaques Ill are positioned between the spaced frames II by means of angle brackets I3 which may be secured to the outer sides `of vthe lateral flanges of the uprights I2. Locklbars I'I may cooperateV with the front flanges of the brackets I8 for holding the plaquesthe're# against in the same manner'as with the frames u In order to build a wall, two sets or pairs of the complementary frames II are erected facing each otherrso that mold plaques it may be secured to their inner or facing sides to form the mold surfacesfor the opposite sides of the wall,

as shown in Fig. l. 'Torbrace the two spacedv sets .ofy frames, they may be spaced and connected an elongated horizontally positioned transverse bar2 that is secured to the lateral flanges of opposed uprights I2 at points above the mold area formed by the plaques IIB or comparable plates or boards. On one side ofthe framework an angular bar 2| is secured to the bottomA bars 2! and 22 firmly brace the opposed upright- I2`relative to each other and without extending through thev lmold area between the vuprigh'ts.l The 'angular bar 22 and the bottom horizontal bar V23 also vact to prop the frameworky in an upright positioni To obtain maximum bracing effect the.angular bars'ZI and 2,2 should'be posi'-I tioned vatangles of 45 or more, relative to their' respective uprights I 2 and vpreferably will be parallelr with veach other'. If desired, a short transverse bar' 24 may be'securedl tothe upper ends lof the "opposed 'uprights- I2 to space and further brace'the structure. Forclarityl of illus-y tration, only a rsingle bracing tarrangementf'is shownin Fig. '1, however, in the preferred( prac; tice such van'` arrangement will be employed lfor eachY pair :off opposed-'uprights I2 sothat the j12,4512 I 25 Uentire framewrk-will be rrnlyibracedibutwith- Joutthe use of a single *embedded 1 tie; ashereto- 'foreemployed. f I modied=farrangernentfis showniinFFigauas 'l comprising the horizontal'transverse bar '52 01 and two `of the angularlyfpsitioned'ilbars .2l-each esecured-to' the bpposite ends iofl-Ithe'itransverse 4barll2ll-and -to the ltlrottoins'l-of their adj acentl) up- Hright/S12. As indicated -inl'Fig 8, fthe .endsfof fthe-angularbars' 42 I may b-"beveled'or otherwise U10 vEroi-med to `permit close 'tting with fthe' upri'g'hts. The short transverse bar 24 may also loe-'employed ffo'r .'bracinglthe' tops fof I `'the spaced lupri'ghts'l I 2. f'lh'is" arrangement is-sornewhat simpler thanlfthe ."preferredarrangement and is-quite sati`sfactory..15 fori-smaller or lighterinstallationsbut doesnot 'have' the structural yrigidity 2that is :inherent iin hthe?. preferred bracing Astructure. SIU will. be noted that bothiof'these bracing arrangemehtsemploy :a common principle,` that of spacing.andbracing20 Athe .frames bya 'transvers'eor crossbraceE at a vpoint above therno'ld area and angularlyibracing, .fifromithefcross brace,` :the `frames."adjacent the bottom of the mold area. v It= shou'ld fbe"`underst`o`od.thatthebrackingar- 1.25 .'ran'gementsshown inthefdrawings are 'illustrative fof theirzassembly `for 'only lthe'inrst mol-ding? nstep. f That "is, f:in molding' wall'. of: .fanyufheightglithe concrete l'is .i poured;V :molded 1. and..=usu'al1yv se i 1in Llayers or ycourses frather than molding the 'whole ,30 l .wall 'sin one rpouring. .'Accordinglm ltheiebracing u'structures are'shown'in" .their .positions for.l brac- :ing :the' framework. which-fis assembled=.for"m'old fing onlythe'zfirst course' which extends the height :of the 'mold plaquesV :I c. To increase thehe-ght.` 35 i of the-wall; a 'secondcourse'ofmold plaques' I vare I superimposed onthe'rst coul-serbi moldl plaques 'andzthe bracing structurels elevatedlonitheliipfr rights I2.y I l This latter arrangement'iszindicated byfrbrbken .40 '.:lines'in Fig.Av 4 wherein `it willnbe seentlratlfadditionall plaques Ilfarefindicatedf asfbe'ing mounted upon .the "original: plaquesv ..I.0,\.the spacingvbanlml as being moved to a point above the second course of plaques i@ and the angular bars 2l secured to 145 the uprights-ltatr atpoi'nt adjacent the bottoms `of the upper plaques Id, or in other words.. adjacent the bottom of what is then the mold area, in View of the fact that at such time the area between thelirst plaques I0 is filled with con-U50 crete. I It will be seen that the' bar 253 in itsupper =positionvis located above the top othe first frames II sothatfthey may Ibe connectedeither'toLupper frames II, fwhich have been attached as .'shown iin'ilig. 2,0r they may be connected to'ls'hort" eX- 55 tensionssuch as the bracketsI I4. Although' .the :'elevatedposition of thel bracingiarrangement is 1tshown onlyin connection with `the simplifiedy arrangement; it will -be understood that'theiipre- ."ferred bracing arrangement shown in Figllwillf rbe'elevated in like manner.

' It Vrnayjbe noted in Fig. 4 that the zframesII are substantially the heightnof-two oflftheimbld plaques I6. It has been found that the greatest versatility of use in molding all types of struc- 65 tures is obtained by fabricating the frames Il from 2 angle irons with the uprights I2 being 5 in height and their outside edges being 4 apart, with the lower cross bars E3 being spaced 9 from the bottoms of the uprights I2 and the upper 70 cross bars I3 being spaced 1 from the tops of the uprights I2. The positioning of the cross bars I3 is such as to accommodate the connecting angle brackets Ill. The mold plaques IU are 2V2' high and 4' wide so that when two of the plaques 75 -arefsuprirnposedewith their?longtudinalftedges abutting, they completely coverithe areafoftone "of ."the frames Ill. `Theplaques I may beoffany .thickness butfin the preierredfstructureItheyz-are 3A `thick. `Iih'e `variousn'elements' for. the ."framework lmay' be. connected together Yin any-ldesired f manner f butV the most satisfactory has proved. to @be .the Ruse .of "ordinary .commerciallyl\.available bolts and nuts `so 'thatbolt' holesmaybesbored both ini-predetermined: locations .andunffdifterent :locations as needed.`

Anytypelof mold plaques-'plates orboards may fibewused' withzlthe framework.' hereinbeforezdescribedg.. theI f. preferred plaques .l 0, however, as previously stated, *comprise castnsheets of l con- '.icrete; I Theiterrn plaque, as. used in connection #with :the `prier.description relating to -thefframeiWork, is intended. to includebroadly.` all mold 4forming `elements.fsuch as' plates, boardshorfithe like. The concretecsheets forming thepla'ques fff'l arel preferably `cast within metal =framsthat ".:serveboth Atozprovde sharp: edges andi corners :IlandYf-toL formfv a. protective covering:` around .the f'edges/ of fthe concrete. Accordingly, .as l'shown'sin IiFig'. 5, a rectangular .f-rarne 301.isformed: of. chaninellironsifwith thel'ch'annels `I'thereof` 'facingtin- Jiwardly Theseiframes*30.v are :preferably braced "byV uprghtchannel ironsl. 3 I vwhich are @positioned so that the edges :B2-fof 'theiri-flanges# 33 fare flush ith theiouterfsurfaces' or .one :of the angesl von: one-side ofl'the frame f3l). ."Thebracingi channel "irons 3 I? have. small plates or fstrapslff secured 'aacross their open'channels 1 with vthe.. outer surffaces ofithe."membersY "35llying'ush withthe edges 32 of said'braces' 3I.

This frame 'structurefmay be fabricatedini. any @desired manner;` as by` welding,A and theniplacd non asuit'ablesurface or in asuitable moldsolthat Iffconcrete maynbe poured vtherein to completely illthe" frame .30 withthelsurfaces ofithe molded 'shee-t lying flush. and vsrnoothwwith the outer sur- "ifecesof 'the Lfrarne fflan'ges butwith 'the` 'exception "ffthat the -'channelsl of the #bracesf @i are :l'etropen and free of cement. `fThe..completed-plaque!1H) .isi shown Fig'l` from fthe. side :'containingfthe #ropenfchannels 3! 1 which is ithe rear side.i er the lpla'que, .andthe-cement surfacel is shown `as ilying t)flush with? .the"`-o`uter= surfaces'. of the-"fframesJ-S fendi the edges "'32 vfof the channel -i members '3 I I This 'cement surface` should be f level so that the plaque will t snugly against its supporting framework. The opposite 'suriface'lofthe-plaque'forms rtheimold' surface andlit shiouldnot only be level *but "should be troweled smooth so that there are inoblemishesiiwhatsoever in fthe-surface. i rOf course; ifl desired, lthefmcld surface may 'be formed -to' create` asurface ysimulating-stone, 'brick or the "-l-ikc; "iihes'trapsiacross the channels 3l. are fprovidedi .f or i usel iin Ithelrpreferredmethdf fof 'zmouhting the-plaques fl it Ito-fthe vfrenn'ework.

' 1` `As herei'nb'efore described 1 in '-'connecti'onfwth Fig. l, the plaques IIJ are positioned 'byfloek'bars A' 1.1; -Asbest'shownfin`fFigJ 8;'the 'loekibars' H have hook-like tongue elements 40 struck as at 40 from their Vertical anges which are adapted to t within the channels 3l and behind the straps 35. This structure provides a very simple arrangement for quickly and easily mounting and dismountng the plaques I0. The plaques need only to be placed against the framework so that the lock bars I1 may be positioned against the opposite sides of the anges of frames I I and with the tongues 4B within the channels 3l and then the bars I1 may be slid downwardly until their tongues 40 are seated behild the straps 35 thus the courses.

l function.

-releasably clamping or binding the plaques in position on their frames Il.

l A wall is usually molded in courses, as hereinbefore stated in connection with Fig. 4, and one plaque I may be mounted edge to edge on top of another plaque I0 for conveniently forming This arrangement is shownv in detail on the left-hand side of the mold structure shown in Fig. 8. For Various reasons it is sometimes desirable to remove the lower plaques I0 after the molded wall has become set but before an upper course has been molded thereon. In such a case the mold plaques for the upper course are preferably supported by a longitudinal channel bar bracket 4l secured to the inner sides of the frames I I. In order to prevent the possibility of deforming the molded surface, the supporting bars 4I are not positioned flush with the top of `the molded wall but are located slightly, preferably about 2, below the top of the wall.

As hereinbefore noted, the plaques I0 have the advantages of the metal mold plates in that they have sharply defined nondeformable edges and corners that t snugly with adjoining plaques so that the surface of the molded wall is free from,

ridges or the like as when formed by loose tting mold boards. Furthermore, they have the very distinct advantage over the metal plates in their low cost and their non-susceptbilty to deterioration. In order to prevent the adherence of the plastic molding material thereto, the surfaces of the plaques l0 are coated with a suitable nonbonding material such as shellac, varnish, soap or thev like. Of course, these coatings protect the metal surfaces of the frames 30 against deterioration as well as performing their primary Accordingly, the plaques l0 may be used time and again as long as they areproperly coated with the non-bonding material. In the event that, through mishandling, their concrete surface becomes cracked or chipped, it may be very easily replaced, and at slight expense, by knocking out the old concrete and casting a new sheet within the same frame 30.

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is quite obvious that many modifications thereof are possible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

That which is claimed, as new, is: Y

1. A mold board or the like for use with a supporting framework in molding walls of plastic material such as concrete which comprises a frame formed of inturned channel members, bracing channel members extending between two opposed sides of said frame, straps spanning the channels of said bracing members for cooperating with retainers, and a sheet of concrete completely filling said frame except for the channels in said bracing members.

2. A mold board or the like for use with a supcomprises porting framework in molding wallsl of plastic material such as concrete which comprises a frame formed of inturned channel members, bracing channel members extending between two opposed sides of said frame and positioned so that its free edges lie flush with the outer surfaces of said frame, straps spanning the channels of said bracing members for cooperating with retainers, and a sheet of concrete completely filling said frame ush with the outer surfaces thereof except for the channels in said bracing members.

3. An apparatus for molding walls and the like from a plactic material such as concrete which comprises spaced rectangular frames, mold plaques supported by said frames on their facing sides to dene a mold area therebetweemsaid plaques having depressions in their rear surfaces lwith flanges overlying a portion of saididepressions, and retainers Vspanning said frames and on the opposite sides thereof from said plaques, said retainers having laterally extending tongues to fit Within said depressions and behind said flanges.

4. An apparatus for molding Walls and thelike from a plastic material such as concrete which spaced rectangular frames, mold plaques supported by said frames on their facing sides to define a mold area therebetween, said plaques including a frame formed of Vinturned channel members, bracing channel members extending between two opposed sides of said frame and positioned so that its free edges lie flush with the outer surfaces of said frame,` straps spanning the channels of said bracing members, and a sheet of concrete completely filling' said frame flush with the outer surfaces thereof except for the channels in said bracing members, and retainers spanning said supporting frames and on the opposite sides thereof `from said plaques, said retainers having laterally extending tongues to fit Within the channels in said plaques and behind the straps spanning said channels. PHILIP Y. K. HOWAT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 854,098 Mann May 21, 1907 946,233 Larzelere Jan. l1, 1910 1,020,164 Symons Mar. 12, 1912 1,270,793 Davidson July 2, 1918 1,489,074 Flagg Apr. 1, 1924 1,560,494 Trester Nov. 3, 1925 1,674,042 Hickey June 19, 1928 1,945,124 Strauss Jan. 30, 1934 2,005,301 Rafter June 1s, 1935 2,115,936 Sterns May 3, 1938 2,306,107 Henderson Dec. 22, 1942 2,313,880 Leggett, sr Mar. 16, 1943 

